More about our Mission

HOWL is a non-profit land trust held in perpetuity for the full diversity of women, regardless of gender assigned at birth, and transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive individuals. We are an intentional community working to create an alternative to systemic oppression and patriarchy. We work collectively to preserve and steward the land, to provide space for community building, service, and skill-sharing, and to collaborate in projects and programming that reflect our shared values of intersectional feminism, compassion, respect, sustainability, and love of the earth.

When HOWL was founded, the concept of gender diversity was not widely acknowledged. At that time, our intention was to be expansive and welcoming to all women, and to be a place to escape the patriarchy, learn new skills, unite, and gather strength.

Today, we recognize that gender-based discrimination impacts people of all marginalized gender identities.  Our common obstacle is not one another, but systemic oppression and the patriarchy itself. Therefore, we are committed to providing an alternative model at HOWL. We seek to create an affirming intersectional space that breaks down harmful and limiting societal messages, without reinforcing that we are wholly defined or limited by our gender identities. In order to keep our land safe and welcoming for all, we expect that everyone at HOWL take responsibility for their own behavior, be kind and respectful toward others, and listen and speak with compassion. Rather than fight each other, we learn from our differences, and gather strength for our larger struggle.